Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Melborne International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Melbourne, Florida 32904
Saturday, January 4, 2003 14:25 EST
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
The pilot of N57318, a North American AT6A, said that he had landed on runway 27L, and had been told to hold short of runway 27R. He said that the FAA Air Traffic Control Tower controller told the pilot of the N522F, a Cessna 172K, to taxi to the ramp, and that his airplane has restricted visibility and that suddenly and unexpectedly the Cessna appeared on the taxiway ahead of him and he collided with it. The pilot of the North American stated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to his airplane or any of its systems. The pilot of the Cessna stated that after landing on runway 27R, he turned on taxiway Q, crossed the hold short line, and came to a complete stop in order to complete the after landing checklist, and the North American impacted the tail of his airplane. The FAA Air Traffic Controller stated that the North American landed on runway 27L and turned off at runway Q, and the pilot of the North American was instructed to hold short of runway 27R. He said the Cessna landed on runway 27R and after landing was instructed to turn right at "Q" and taxi to parking. When the Cessna had turned off the runway, he said he then instructed the North American to taxi to cross runway 27R and taxi to parking, and within a few moments the collision occurred. One of the witnesses stated that she saw the North American run into the back of the Cessna, and further stated that she did not see the North American engaged in any "S-turn" maneuvers as it was being taxied.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
The failure of the pilot of the North American AT6A, N57318 to maintain a proper visual lookout while taxiing, which resulted in him impacting the rear of the Cessna 172K, N522F.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 1/4/2003 |
| Event Day of the Week | Saturday |
| Time of Event | 1425 |
| Event Time Zone | Eastern Standard Time |
| Event City | Melbourne |
| Event State | FLORIDA |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 32904 |
| Event Date Year | 2003 |
| Event Date Month | 1 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | Yes |
| Event Location Latitude | 280610N |
| Event Location Longitude | 0803845W |
| Event Location Airport | Melborne International |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | MLB |
| Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport | On Airport |
| Distance from airport in statute miles | -- |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | -- |
| Airport Elevation | 35 |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | Not pertinent |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 1430 Eastern Standard Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | -- |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | MLB |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 35 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | -- |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | EST |
| Lighting Conditions | Day |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | -- |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | -- |
| Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions | Clear |
| Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling | None |
| Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) | -- |
| Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) | -- |
| Visibility (Statute Miles) | 10 |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | 14 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 1 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 300 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 6 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Not Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | -- |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 30.12 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | 0 |
| Intensity of Precipitation | -- |
| METAR weather report | -- |
| Event Highest Injury | None |
| On Ground, Fatal Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Minor Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Serious Injuries | -- |
| Injury Total Fatal | -- |
| Injury Total Minor | -- |
| Injury Total None | 3 |
| Injury Total Serious | -- |
| Injury Total All | -- |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 13847 |
| NTSB Notification Source | FAA Comm Ctr-SE |
| NTSB Notification Date | Jan 4 2003 12:00AM |
| NTSB Notification Time | 1600 |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | DMS |
| Date of most recent change to record | Aug 26 2003 8:17AM |
| User who most recently changed record | NTSB\JOHB |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | Orlando |
Aircraft Involved |
||
|---|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
Aircraft #2 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N57318 | N522F |
| NTSB Number | MIA03LA038A | MIA03LA038B |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | -- | -- |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 91: General Aviation | Part 91: General Aviation |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | None | Unknown |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | No | No |
| Damage | Minor | Substantial |
| Aircraft Fire | None | None |
| Aircraft Explosion | None | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | North American | Cessna |
| Aircraft Model | AT-6A | 172K |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 78-6680 | 17258510 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 5300 | 2300 |
| Aircraft Category | Airplane | Airplane |
| Aircraft Registration Class | U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil | U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil |
| Aircraft is a homebuilt? | No | No |
| Flight Crew Seats | -- | -- |
| Cabin Crew Seats | -- | -- |
| Passenger Seats | -- | -- |
| Total number of seats on the aircraft | 2 | 4 |
| Number of Engines | 1 | 1 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Retractable | Fixed |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | Annual | 100 Hour |
| Date of Last Inspection | Apr 10 2002 12:00AM | Dec 9 2002 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | 46 | 10 |
| Airframe Hours | 4662 | 7275 |
| ELT Installed | Yes | Yes |
| ELT Activated | No | Yes |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | No | No |
| ELT Type | -- | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Name | Randall S. Difani | Spectrum Aviation, Inc. |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | 175 Calico Ln. | 1585 Aviation Center Pkway |
| Aircraft Owner City | Indialantic | Daytona Beach |
| Aircraft Owner State | FL | FL |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 32903 | 32144 |
| Operator is an individual? | No | No |
| Operator Name | -- | -- |
| Operator Same as Owner? | Yes | Yes |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | Yes | Yes |
| Operator Street Address | -- | -- |
| Operator City | -- | -- |
| Operator State | -- | -- |
| Operator Country | -- | -- |
| Operator Zip code | -- | -- |
| Operator Code | -- | -- |
| Owner has at least one certificate | None | None |
| Other Operator of large aircraft? | -- | -- |
| Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation | -- | -- |
| Operator Certificate Number | -- | -- |
| Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not | -- | -- |
| Indicates Domestic or International Flight | -- | -- |
| Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail | -- | -- |
| Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) | Personal | Personal |
| Second Pilot on Board | No | No |
| Departure Point Same as Event | Yes | No |
| Departure Airport Code | MLB | DAB |
| Departure City | Melbourne | Daytona Beach |
| Departure State | FL | FL |
| Departure Country | USA | USA |
| Departure Time | 1325 | 1345 |
| Departure Time Zone | EST | EST |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere | crash at destination city |
| Destination Airport Code | MLB | MLB |
| Destination City | -- | Melbourne |
| Destination State | -- | FL |
| Destination Country | -- | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | Taxi - from landing | Taxi - from landing |
| Report sent to ICAO? | No | No |
| Evacuation occurred | Yes | Yes |
| Date of most recent change to record | Jun 5 2003 12:37PM | Jun 5 2003 12:37PM |
| User who most recently changed record | KENJ | KENJ |
| Since inspection or accident | Time of Accident | Time of Accident |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | -- | -- |
| Runway Length | -- | -- |
| Runway Width | -- | -- |
| Sight Seeing flight | No | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No | No |
| Medical Flight | -- | -- |